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Halsey is Nov. 7 Reader |
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Judge Barbara Halsey Will Read At November 7 Stories in the Forest
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Circuit Judge Barbara Halsey will read The Kissing Hand and other stories to youngsters at 3 Saturday afternoon at the St. Bernards Fun Forest at The Mall at Turtle Creek. Above, she … and the book’s main character Chester Raccoon … give some of her young friends a preview of the book. Pictured with her are (from left) Will Thyer, four-year-old son of Cindy and Chris Thyer of Jonesboro; Sophie Bonds, four-year-old daughter of Jeannie and Jeff Bonds of Jonesboro; Noah George, 6-year-old son of Lisa Thompson and C.J. George of Jonesboro; and Lily Owens, 4-year-old daughter of Lisa and Lance Owens of Jonesboro. Stories in the Forest is a free program sponsored by the Women’s Advisory Council of the St. Bernards Development Foundation on the first Saturday of each month.
| The Honorable Barbara Halsey, circuit judge, Second Judicial Circuit Division, will be the reader at 3 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 7) for Stories in the Forest, a program sponsored by the Women’s Advisory Council of the St. Bernards Development Foundation.
Halsey Will read The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn and The Napping House by Little Rock native Audrey Wood.
The Kissing Hand is a picture book that is widely used by kindergarten teachers on the first day of school. Halsey will be “assisted” by Chester Raccoon, the story’s main character..
In the book, school is starting, but Chester Raccoon does not want to go. To help ease his fears, his mother shares a family secret with him. It’s “The Kissing Hand.” Mrs. Raccoon simply kisses Chester’s hand and then touches his face with his hand … as a way to give him a secret kiss and reassure him her love is there anytime he needs it.
The heartwarming book, designed for children ages 3 to 8, is published by Tanglewood Press and illustrated by Ruth E. Harper and Nancy M. Leak. It has become a favorite of parents and children since its publication in 1993.
Penn is a former ballerina who turned to writing children’s books after an illness curtailed her dancing. She had performed with the National Ballet, the New York City Ballet, the Stuttgart Ballet and the Danny Diamond Dance Theatre. She also served as alignist and choreographer for the U.S. Figure Skating Team in preparation for the Pan American Games in 1973 and for the 1976 Olympic Gymnastics team. When juvenile rheumatoid arthritis cut her dancing days short, she turned to writing children’s books. And she has amassed quite a number and has been recognized for her contributions to children’s literature. The Kissing Hand was a New York Times No. 1 Best Seller in 1994, and for it Penn received the Distinguished Achievement Award for Excellence in Educational Journalism from the Educational Press Association of America. She and her family live in Olney, Md.
Her other books include several in the Kissing Hand series – Chester Raccoon and the Acorn Full of Memories, A Kiss Goodbye, Chester Raccon and the Big Bad Bully and A Pocket Full of Kisses. She also has books that are known as the Blackbeard Quartet – Mystery at Blackbeard’s Cove, Blackbeard and the Sandstone Pillar: When Lightning Strikes, Blackbeard and the Gift of Silence and Blackbeard’s Legacy.
Some of her other books include A.D.D. not B.A.D., Feathers and Fur, The Miracle Jar, Sassafrass and The Whistling Tree.
The Napping House, published by Harcourt in 1984, is a picture book written by Little Rock native Audrey Wood and illustrated by her artist husband Don Wood. The delightful book has become a favorite because of its repeated phrases and its cumulative tale that starts off with Granny snoring as she naps in her bed one rainy afternoon.
Granny is joined in her comfy bed by a child who climbs atop her and drifts off into dreams. The “pile” of nappers increases when a dog joins the first two and dozes off. Then a cat piles on top of the other sleepers to snooze. Finally, a mouse winds up on top of them all. But the entire scenario begins to unravel – or unpile – when a flea bites the mouse, jarring that creature from slumber. The process unfolds, with each napper awakening in reverse order, ending the story in sunshine and play.
Wood uses soothing rhythms and rhymes that have endeared the book to readers. Though the author herself has illustrated some of her books, Audrey Wood and her husband Don have collaborated on many others, with some receiving national acclaim. Their King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub received a Caldecott honor; and Piggies earned an ALA Notable Children’s Book, a Booklist Editor’s Choice and a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year distinction.
Audrey learned to love storytelling when she was a child. Her first memories were of Sarasota, Fla., the winter quarters of the Ringling Brothers Circus. Her father was a young art student who earned extra money by repainting the big top and sideshows, and her mother often took her to watch him work. She made up wonderful stories about the people in the brightly colored murals. Later, as the oldest of three children, Audrey took on the role of storyteller for her two younger sisters.
By the time she was in the fourth grade, Audrey knew there were two things she wanted to do – write and illustrate children’s books and live in Dr. Dolittle’s house. She says she accomplished only one of the two. But she quickly adds that Dr. Dolittle likely would feel quite at home in her house because the family, who lives in Santa Barbara, Calif., enjoys the company of numerous animal friends.
Books written and illustrated by Audrey Wood include A Dog Needs a Bone!, Oh My Baby Bear, Rude Giants, Silly Sally, Little Penguin’s Tale, Tugford Wanted to Be Bad, The Red Racer and Weird Parents. Books written by Audrey Wood and illustrated by Don Wood include Into the Volcano, Tickle-Octopus, Moonflute, Bright and Early Thursday Evening, Heckedy Peg, The Little Mouse, Quick as a Cricket, Elbert’s Bad Word, Piggies and The Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear.
In addition to giving parents some quality time with their children and exposing children to some favorite books of local residents, Stories in the Forest has an educational focus, with printed materials available for parents. The program is an outgrowth of the Women’s Advisory Council’s tremendously successful Kidz Fun Fair.
The Women’s Advisory Council is a group of about 120 area women who have joined together in an advisory role to give input on important healthcare issues impacting women and children. They encourage educational as well as service outreach efforts designed to make Jonesboro a better place to live, work and raise families.
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